Helping Victims

From the moment an act of violence takes place, CTVP’s teams are there, forging an immediate bond with the victims and their families, bringing them financial, practical, emotional, and spiritual support as they struggle to reclaim and rebuild their lives.

We stay with all these families for as long as they need us – whether weeks, months or years. There is no end point to our help except the family’s ability to re-enter their lives successfully. Only then do we move quietly into the background, but still remain available for those times when the horror inevitably reasserts itself and help is needed once again.

Immediately upon returning from the convention of Chabad Shluchim in New York, Rabbi Menachem Kutner, Director of Chabad’s Terror Victims Project (CTVP) and Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Freiman, Shaliach in Zichron Yaakov, began visiting families in that area who have been impacted by the terrible fires that raged everywhere. Fires that are the newest weapon in the terrorists’ arsenal of violence.

This is just the beginning as Rabbi Kutner will be going to all the families and, with the help of the Shluchim in the Chabad Houses in their areas, will bring relief efforts to all the suffering families.

Rabbis Kutner and Freiman sat with several families the first day, listening to their stories and assessing what their immediate needs are so that they could provide not only emotional comfort, but replace the basic needs lost in the fires.

In one home the father was distraught. His tallis and tefillin had been burned and there was no trace of them. Rabbis Kutner and Freiman left and returned a short time later with a tallis, tefillin, a set of Jewish books, and a tzedakah box. The father was overwhelmed with gratitude, tears falling from his eyes.

In another home, it became clear immediately that the family could not remain there, there was too much damage. CTVP arranged to have them moved to another apartment. Rabbi Freiman invited them to come to all the Shabbos meals in his home.

One of the items this family lost in the fire was their washing machine which is critically important for a family with children. The government would eventually cover the cost of this, but it could take three months, so Rabbi Kutner told them not to worry. CTVP would provide one for them right away.

In another home, Rabbi Kutner said, it was eerie. The ground floor, which had mezuzahs on all the doorposts, was not damaged. The top floor, however, where there were none, was totally destroyed. CTVP is helping this family with basic needs now, and once the repairs are done, will provide them with new mezuzahs for the top floor.

We will keep you updated as Chabad’s Terror Victims Project (CTVP) and the 300 Chabad Houses across Israel move forward in relief efforts – efforts only possible through your partnership and generosity. Thank you.

To make an emergency donation directly to Chabad’s Terror Victims Project, go to ctvp.org/fire.

Yesterday I visited Otniel, the home of the Mark family whose lives were irreparably shattered by a vicious terror attack on Route 60 last week. I was accompanied by the local Shaliach, Rabbi Yosef Dahan, and his son, Ron, who is the head of the Otniel Community Council.

We began our time there speaking with some of the young people of Otniel. They feel devastated and horrified that their small community has had 11 people killed in terror attacks, some living on the same street as the Mark family. We offered them words of comfort and suggested some of the Rebbe’s ideas to them about gaining strength through good deeds done in memory of those who were murdered.

Then we met Rabbi Miki Mark’s brother-in-law, the Rosh Yeshiva of the Otniel Yeshiva, who reminded us about the horrific terror attack that had taken place in his yeshiva in 2002 in which four young people were murdered.

Then we walked into the Mark family home and sat down with them, our hearts aching for these beautiful children who had lost their father, whose mother and two siblings were wounded. As we sat and talked together, they told us that their father’s family was related to the Rebbe and that Rabbi Mark had been studying the Rebbe’s teachings.

We gave them a large check to help them through this terribly, terribly difficult time. They were deeply grateful and told us how Rabbi Miki, as he is often referred to, would always give any amount of money he could to help others.

Shlomi, Rabbi Mark’s oldest son, told us that he is married to a young woman whose family was also devastated by terror. The Mark family had embraced her family after the attack and ultimately he married her.

Then we learned something chilling.

Rabbi Mark’s brother had gone to pay a shiva call to the family of 13-year-old Hallel Yaffe Ariel, who had been murdered in her sleep in Kiryat Arba. Hallel’s father, Amichai, was an old and dear friend of Rabbi Mark’s brother who came immediately after the funeral to be with him.

When he was there, Amichai Ariel gave him a bottle of wine from his winery. Rabbi Mark’s brother said he was not knowledgeable about wines but would take it to his brother, Miki, for the following Shabbos, when they would be together, because he was very interested in and well-informed about wines and would appreciate it.

His brother, Rabbi Miki, was murdered the next day and Amichai then came to pay a shiva call to Rabbi Miki’s brother. The two families are inextricably linked through the pain they have suffered. We pray that peace will come to Israel and the world very soon. Shabbat Shalom.

Today I visited the families of the kidnapped soldiers from the Gaza War. They were in a tent opposite the Prime Minister's House in Jerusalem.

I spent time with the parents of kidnapped soldier Oron Shaul to express our solidarity with them and to pray for the release of their son and the release of Hadar Goldin.

I comforted them with words of blessings and consolation from the Lubavitcher Rebbe.

Oron’s brother took time out from planning future steps to help bring home his brother. He came over to me and asked to put on tefillin. Afterwards, he told me that he is going to put on tefillin every day from now in the merit of bringing Oron home. His words touched me deeply.

We pray for the release of kidnapped soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin.

Our Chabad’s Terror Victims Project (CTVP) group has just returned from making highly emotional shiva calls to the families of two young Israelis brutally murdered during the recent wave of horrific terror attacks sweeping across Israel.

Ziv Mizrahi was only 18 years old. He had been in the Israeli army for just nine months when he was stabbed to death by an Arab terrorist at the Dor Alon gas station on Road 443 just outside Jerusalem.

This was not the first time the Mizrahi family had their world shattered by terror. Twelve years ago, Ziv’s cousin, Alon Mizrahi, was murdered when an Arab terrorist blew himself up in an attack on Café Hillel in Jerusalem. Ziv’s family lives on a street in Givat Ze’ev that was named for his cousin.

21-year-old Hadar Buchris of Tzfat in northern Israel was also viciously stabbed by an Arab terrorist as she waited for a ride at the Gush Etzion Junction. She was rushed to Shaarei Tzedek Hospital in Jerusalem under sedation and on a ventilator. Doctors tried desperately to save her but she died on the operating table.

Two young Israelis tragically cut down because they were Jews. Two families left bereft and in need of the support and help that CTVP brings to every family shattered by terror.

We were accompanied on these heartrending visits by students from five Chabad on Campus chapters in the United States and Canada. They heard the tragic story of the father and brother of Sarah Litman who were murdered in a terror attack just before she was to marry Ariel Beigel.

The students responded from their hearts when they found out the young couple wanted the world to attend their wedding to show the strength and resilience of the Jewish people.

The students raised money and sent representatives to Israel to attend the wedding.

Then they joined us at CTVP to visit the families of two terror victims to bring them courage and support and to show their deep solidarity with – and love for – their brothers and sisters in Israel.

We want to share the emotional words of Rabbi Yossi Witkes from Chabad on Campus in Israel as our CTVP group and the students returned to Jerusalem shortly before Shabbos after visiting the grieving families of Ziv and Hadar:

Today was an incredibly powerful experience. The families were so-so appreciative of the collective hug we were giving them on behalf of Klal Yisroel.

At the second house, we left something in the car so I went back to get it and came in late. An elderly gentleman, who I later found out was the grandfather, whispered to me as I walked in:

“Sh, sh. You are not going to believe it. This is a group of students from America. They are speaking in English but someone is going to translate. It is unbelievable, mamash (truly) unbelievable.”

He was shaking his head in disbelief that these young people had come all the way from the United States to see them during the shiva.

This is how our CTVP group and the students were welcomed in each house and by each person. Their gratitude was overwhelming, their hearts moved with emotion at this outpouring of love.

This is what CTVP does day in and day out. Our mission is to bring comfort, hope, and support – financial, emotional, spiritual and practical – to victims of terror and war in Israel and their families. This is what we do – the only thing we do.

Kiryat Arba resident Meir Pavlovsky, 31, was sitting quietly next to the Hazon David synagogue in his home town. He was studying Torah when a terrorist appeared out of nowhere and brutally stabbed him in the stomach.

As the terrorist fled, he stabbed Meir in the back as well.

Though severely wounded, Meir was able to get himself to a nearby IDF position and from there he was transferred to the hospital.

When he arrived, the doctors gave him a 10% chance of living, so brutal were the wounds that had been inflicted on him. The terrorist, who was just a teenager, fled toward Hebron and has not yet been apprehended.

Chabad’s Terror Victims Project (CTVP) immediately went to the hospital to be with Meir. He is alone in Israel, his parents in Ukraine. We became his family, visiting him numerous times during his ten-day stay in the hospital, including bringing him a young visitor from Vienna, Simon, who did not let the terror in Israel prevent him from coming there to celebrate his Bar Mitzvah. He spent much time visiting many victims of terror including Meir.

While hospitalized, we helped Meir put on tefillin and brought him numerous gifts – and we brought him continual comfort, support and hope as he struggled to recover from the wounds inflicted on him by a 10-inch long knife.

When the attack took place, Meir had been planning to become engaged, so as soon as he was released from the hospital, we took him to buy new clothes and provided help and support to him and his Kallah (fiancée) as they began to plan for their wedding. Meir also took time to visit the Rebbe’s room in 770 of Kfar Chabad to pray and offer thanks.

This young couple is now well on their way to becoming married and CTVP will be there with them every step of the way on their journey.

Accompanied by CTVP staff, they spend time with those wounded in recent attacks and their families

By Chabad.org Staff | October 23, 2015 9:41 AM

At Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Jerusalem are Rabbi Peretz Chein, left, executive director of the Chabad House at Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., who came with a local delegation to visit Israeli terror victims and their families. To his right are Rabbi Menachem Kutner, director of the Chabad Terror Victims Project; Rabbi Yisroel Naftalin, the hospital's Chabad emissary; and Brandeis student Tzvi Miller, far right, with his brother, Netzach, who lives in Israel.

Israel is once again the hotbed of terrorist attacks, and it’s become an uneasy time for some people to visit the Holy Land. But for Rabbi Sholom Raichik, director of Chabad of Upper Montgomery County in Gaithersburg, Md., and Rabbi Peretz Chein, executive director of the Chabad House at Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., now is the right time.

Working with representatives of the Chabad Terror Victims Project, both brought delegations from abroad to comfort victims of terror and demonstrate solidarity with the Israeli people.

Raichik’s delegation spent 36 hours in Israel. The group came straight from the airport outside of Tel Aviv to Soroka Medical Center in Be’er Sheva to visit those who had been wounded in the Oct. 18 attack at the central bus station there, in which a 19-year-old Israeli Defense Forces soldier, Cpl. OmriLevi of Sdei Hemed, was shot and killed.

They also went to the grave of Alon Govberg, who was killed last week in a bus attack in theJerusalem neighborhood of Armon Hanatziv. Reported Raichik: “He has no family in Israel to visit his grave. We went today and had aminyan to say Tehillim and Kaddish, marking the end of the shiva [mourning] period.”

Hope and Encouragement

According to victims and their families, the visits brought hope and encouragement to their profoundly changed lives.

“People were most appreciative of our coming to Israel just to visit with them, to give thanks in the name of our community to the soldiers who are on the front lines, and to give support and comfort to the injured and their families,” said Bernie Schack, who toured the country with Rabbi Raichik. “We made an effort to go where the need was, not necessarily where it was easiest.”

Chein, right, writes messages of love and hope in the Chitat book (Chumash, Tehillim and Tanya) given to a wounded soldier. His hand was severely injured, prohibiting his return to serve his country.

Also accompanied by CTVP, Rabbi Chein brought a delegation from Brandeis University, with students on campus volunteering to publicize the trip and raise money for it. The group carried with them a school banner that also listed the names of students at Brandeis who stand in solidarity with Israel.

On their second day there, they went to Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Jerusalem to spend time in the hospital with attack victims and their families. The recovering ranged from an elderly man who had been stabbed near his brain and an Israeli soldier who was wounded by a terrorist to a family whose son lay in a coma and an elderly woman whose husband of many decades had been shot and stabbed; he, too, was in a coma.

Each stop along their way—as they sat and listened to harrowing story after story—they made it a point to sing inspiring songs, lifting spirits as best they could.

“So many people have been moved,” reflected Brandeis student Tzvi Miller, who traveled to Israel with the rabbi. “What I took away is how what happens here affects everyone. The people here know we came. We visited people about whom we read in the newspapers, and now they are here in the hospital.”

Rabbis Kutner, Chein and Naftalin, along with Brandeis student Miller, stand outside the room where a terrorist is currently being treated, just a few rooms away from where the people he attempted to murder are being cared for. Pictured with them is the soldier guarding the room.

Continued Calls for Mitzvahs, Torah Study and Prayer

In addition to prayers for the wounded, there were also calls by rabbinic leaders around the world for increases in Torah study, prayer and other mitzvahs, in addition to donning tefillin. For suggestions of what Jewish people around the world can do to help their brethren in Israel, read the article 7 Things You Can Do for Israel Today here.

The tefillin campaign comes in light of instructions given by the Rebbe, RabbiMenachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, who had issued a similar call during other dangerous times in Israel. Before the outbreak of the June 1967 war, for example, the Rebbe prompted an active campaign for Jewish males over the age of 13 to perform the mitzvah of tefillin.

Wrapping tefillin is part of the Rebbe’s 10 mitzvah campaigns introduced between the years of 1967 and 1976, which formed the platform upon which the Rebbe’s far-reaching program to revitalize Jewish life and observance throughout the world was built.

The laying of tefillin instills fear in the enemy, explain the sages of the Talmud, quoting: “Then all the peoples of the earth will see that the name of the Lord is called upon you, and they will fear you.” (Deuteronomy 28:10).

Chein, Kutner and Miller, along with Rabbi Ahronchik Prus, right, of the Chabad Youth Organization, visit soldiers guarding the Armon Hanatziv neighborhood of Jerusalem, where several terrorist attacks have taken place over the course of the month.

New List of Injured is Released

As attacks continued, the Chabad Terror Victims Project (ctvp.org) released an updated list of those injured in recent terrorist attacks.

The public is asked to continue their prayers for their speedy and complete recovery. It is customary for petitions for recovery to be recited in synagogue on the Sabbath and on other days when the Torah is read in public.

For more news, opinion, inspiration, advice and first-person articles on the October 2015 Wave of Terror in Israel, visit the special Chabad.org section here.

Rabbi Sholom Raichik, right, director of Chabad of Upper Montgomery County in Gaithersburg, Md.,and community member Bernard Schack bring gifts for Israeli soldiers in Be’er Sheva, where a deadly attack occurred last week at the central bus station.

Raichik and Schack also deliver tefillin to male soldiers.

The Raichik group at the grave of Alon Govberg, who was killed in a bus attack one week ago and has no family in Israel. The men organized a minyan at his grave site to say Tehillim and Kaddish, making the end of the shiva (mourning) period.

Raichik helps a border policeman in Be’er Sheva don tefillin.

Saying prayers for the injured, as Jewish people everywhere can do to help.

Yair, who lives in Raanana in Israel, was getting ready to leave the house a few days ago. He was getting dressed and looking for a pair of tzitzit (ritual fringes) that he wears under his shirt all the time, following Jewish commandments.

It turns out they were all in the laundry except the brand new pair he had purchased in honor of his sister’s wedding which was to take place in two days.

As he intended to keep them clean and new for the wedding, he decided he would go without wearing tzitzit that day. But, at the last minute, uneasy about his decision, he turned back and put them on, knowing it was the correct thing to do – and feeling that if he didn’t, he would somehow be inviting trouble.

He left for the bus stop and was waiting for the bus to arrive. He was feeling tense already because of the terrible terror attacks that had been taking place all across Israel. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a man near him who was having a conversation in Arabic on his phone. The man looked very agitated and was dripping with sweat.

Before Yair could do anything, the man suddenly lunged at him and began stabbing him in the shoulder and neck. As Yair struggled with him, despite the pain and horror, he tried to make sure to keep the attacker away from a woman and her children nearby.

People around him came to his rescue, some tackling and holding the terrorist, the others taking his tzitzit and tearing them into bandages to staunch the flow of blood.

Yair told them that he felt sure that Hashem had protected him from worse injuries in the merit of his having worn his tzitzit that morning. Not to mention the fact that the tzitzit stopped his loss of blood.

Yair underwent a series of treatments and was released from the hospital just in time to attend his sister’s wedding! Mazel Tov to all!!

The situation in Israel today is one of agonizing fear and pain. Random horrific acts of terror – many with deadly results – are taking place throughout Jerusalem and all around the country with increasing frequency and brutality. No place is safe.

Chabad’s Terror Victims Project (CTVP) has ramped up our services dramatically to meet the urgent needs of the many victims and their families. We are literally going from hospital to hospital, home to home, 24 hours a day, to bring comfort and hope to those whose lives have been shattered in this newest wave of violence.

On Tuesday, Elyosef Malkeli, a wounded IDF soldier who went on the CTVP trip to Miami, came with us to the hospitals. He was able to share his own story from a year ago with the families whose loved ones are fighting for their lives in intensive care units and operating rooms.

His calm demeanor, the fact that he is now fully healed, brought the families strength and hope in a way that was critically important for them.

The pain and horror that we are seeing is awful. Each day is bringing new violence. CTVP is everywhere, with staff and volunteers giving of their time continually, without letup so that no family is facing the fear and agony of this horror alone.

We are providing everything we can for them from immediate financial assistance to comfort and counseling, as well as practical assistance – babysitting for children at home, hot meals, rides to hospitals, and more.

We are asking everyone to please pray for the safety of Israel and her people at this urgent time and please make a donation to CTVP now to enable us to carry out our life-sustaining work without interruption. Thank you.

Chabad's Terror Victims Project have been encouraging and assisting those who were injured in the recent terror attacks in Jerusalem.

CTVP staff and volunteers are visiting the wounded in the hospitals Jerusalem in order to cheer them up and to provide them with emergency aid.

An especially heart moving visit took place at the bedside of the baby who was injured by a gun shot to the leg and whose father was murdered by the terrorist R”L. Rabbi Menachem Kutner saw that the baby is there alone with only his aunt by his bedside. He immediately returned again with his hands full of toys and games to make it easier for the baby and the healing process.

Please take a moment to recite a Psalm for the speedy recovery of those who have been wounded.

In the lobby of the Rehabilitation Department at Tel Hashomer Hospital in Ramat Gan, Israel, a very moving and special event has taken just place.

Chabad's Terror Victims Project (CTVP.ORG) organized the writing of a special Torah Scroll in the merit of the healing of all the soldiers wounded in Operation Protective Edge, also known as the Gaza War, which took place in the summer of 2014.

Dozens of soldiers who were severely wounded in the fighting in Gaza remain in hospitals and rehabilitation facilities seven months after the conclusion of the war, battling severe injuries.

From the beginning, CTVP has been with these soldiers, at their bedsides, bringing comfort, hope, and practical assistance. As well, CTVP has been with their families enabling them to be with their loved ones as much as possible by providing babysitting, hot meals, grocery shopping and anything that they have needed during this difficult time.

Rabbi Menachem Kutner, Director of CTVP, and Rabbi Yossi Swerdlov, Associate Director of CTVP, came to the hospital to host this very special event. All of the wounded soldiers were invited to personally write a letter in the Torah Scroll to help in their healing, and the healing of all their comrades who are still suffering from debilitating injuries.

Rabbi Levi Gopin, Shaliach to Tel Hashomer, also invited the medical staff and department heads to write a letter in the Torah Scroll.

The Torah is a gift of the Ganz family of Toronto who are part of the Chabad community under the leadership of Rabbi Mendel Kaplan.

The family participated in this exciting and moving event along with a family friend, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Gluckowsky, Deputy Secretary of Chabad Rabbis.

All of the wounded soldiers offered their deepest gratitude to the Ganz family and to CTVP for the sacred opportunity to write their own letter in the Torah Scroll -- a merit that will strengthen and encourage them in their often painful journey to move forward in their healing and to complete their rehabilitation.

Deepest appreciation goes to the Ganz family from CTVP for this wonderful mitzvah and the hope and help it is providing to these true heroes of Israel and the Jewish People.

A group from Chabad's Terror Victims Project has just been to the hospital where 11-year-old Ayala Shapiro remains in critical condition.

On Thursday, December 24, Ayala and her father, who was also injured, were on their way to their home, which is near Ma’ale Adumim in Samaria, when terrorists hurled a firebomb at their car.

They managed to escape the flaming car but both were burned, Ayala very severely. They were treated on the scene and taken to the Tel Hashomer burn unit where Ayala was put on a respirator.

We met with Ayala’s father and mother in the hospital. Together we said special verses of Tehillim on behalf of both father and daughter. We were joined by 2 families from Miami who came with us and gave gifts to Ayala’s family.

CTVP gave Ayala a beautiful pink leather volume of Chitas with her name stamped in gold from the Rober book binders.

Ayala’s parents were very moved by the visit from CTVP and the families from Miami. They thanked everyone for their solidarity and for bringing them strength, compassion, and support.

An emotional request was made by Ayala’s parents that we ask everyone to please continue their prayers for the full recovery of Ayala bat Ruth.

CTVP representatives recently visited the home of Zidan Saif, of blessed memory. He was the Druze police officer who was killed in the horrific terror attack in Har Nof a short while ago.

Zidan was trying to protect the lives of the Jews praying inside the synagogue. His great, heroic sacrifice saved many lives that might have been lost without his courage and dedication.

Rabbi Menachem Kutner, CTVP Director, and Rabbi Ahron Prus went to the home of Rinal Saif, Zidan's widow, and their 5-month-old baby. They live in the Druze village of Yanuach in the Galil.

Out of respect to the Rabbis, they were met and greeted there by the head of the local council in Yanuach along with other respected members of the community.

It was an extremely moving and emotional visit. Rabbi Kutner presented a financial gift to Rinal from two anonymous CTVP donors in America. He told her how much the brave actions of her husband were appreciated and that they brought condolences on behalf of all those whose lives had been saved because of him. The young widow was deeply grateful as she struggled to maintain her composure. She asked us to convey her deep gratitude to the donors.

She was also very grateful that her husband’s heroism was recognized and acknowledged not only in Israel but internationally as well.

Many people throughout the Druze community heard about the visit and were so very appreciative on behalf of Rinal and the baby.

Several years ago, a Druze police officer from the same village was killed in the line of fire. The same donors sent a gift for his family at that time. When his brother heard that representatives of CTVP were in their village, he came to say hello and reiterate his great gratitude for the help CTVP provided to his brother’s family.

As Israel continues to struggle with violent terror attacks including a stabbing today, CTVP’s work is taking us across the country to the families of the victims. Your generous help at this difficult time will bring comfort, help and hope to Israeli families whose lives have been shattered by terror and war.

As Associate Director of Chabad’s Terror Victims Project (CTVP), I’ve seen too many heartbreaking sights. But few could compare to the most recent tragedies in Jerusalem...

Yitzchak is the oldest son in a family of nine children. His father was one of the four Rabbis brutally murdered in the Har Nof area of Jerusalem in November.

During my first two visits to the family, Yitzchak sat quietly, clutching his father’s tefillin to his chest.

When I came again, this time with CTVP supporters who flew in especially from the U.S., Yitzchak took the tefillin out of their cases. He wanted to show us the blood splattered on them – his father’s blood. The straps too had been drenched in blood and were buried.

I struggled to maintain my composure as Yitzchak spoke to us in a soft voice, his eyes filled with tears. A child should never have to go through this.

We’re doing everything we can for these families. 24 children have been robbed of their fathers. Four women robbed of their husbands. We’ve given each of these families a large financial gift from CTVP donors in the United States.

For those wounded in this horrific attack we’re providing support as well. One is a father of ten children who’s fighting for his life. Babysitting has been arranged for the children, and we are providing a hotel so his wife can be at his bedside in the hospital 24/7.

We’ve also given financial help to the family of the courageous Druze police officer who gave his life, thus saving many lives in the synagogue. We’ve visited his family and will do all we can for them.

Jerusalem has had far too many terror attacks in recent weeks, and we are helping the families whose lives were shattered by those incomprehensible acts of violence.

Tragically the terror continues. We urgently need your help now to be “everywhere” at once during this terrible period of violence plaguing Israel.

In addition, there are the thousands of families already in our care from previous wars and terror attacks, as well as the recent Gaza War.

May we speedily see the time when Hashem will wipe away the tears and send us Moshiach now.

Rabbi Yaakov Barber, a Chabad Shaliach from Melbourne, Australia came to Israel recently with members of his community on a visit of solidarity with the people of Israel. Together with a delegation from Chabad's Terror Victims Project (CTVP), they visited the families of the terror victims who were violently murdered in Israel in the last weeks by incomprehensible, senseless stabbings and by cars used as weapons. And they went to see those who were injured in these terror acts and are in the hospital.

They also visited soldiers wounded in the Gaza War who are still in hospitals and rehabilitation facilities. For the many soldiers wounded in the Gaza War, they brought souvenirs from Australia, A Chitas, headsets and more. The gifts were lovingly packed in Australia by members of the Jewish community there who want to show their deep appreciation for all that these brave young soldiers have done to protect Israel for all of us.

In addition to CTVP, the Australian group was also accompanied by soldiers who were veterans and who had been wounded in Operation Cast Lead and the Second Lebanon war. They had been on a CTVP trip to Australia five years ago where they were hosted by Rabbi Barber. They wanted to join him now and say thank you to this newest group of wounded soldiers and express their gratitude for their courage and for their carrying on in the defense of our precious Jewish homeland.

The message this group brought to all the soldiers they visited in Israel was: We came to say thank you, to say that the struggle for the safety of the Land of Israel is a struggle for the safety of all Jews throughout the world. The sacrifices of the soldiers who fight in Israel are to protect Jews as far away as Australia.

The wounded soldiers were so grateful for these visits. They said they gave them renewed strength of spirit to continue in their long and often painful rehabilitation processes. To know that so many people around the world cared about them was an enormous gift to them.

The visits CTVP and Rabbi Barber’s group paid to recent terror victims and their families were extraordinarily emotional since the attacks have been so recent and the pain so raw. They spent time with the family of Rabbi Yehuda Glick, who was critically injured in a shooting attack in Jerusalem.

They went to the families of three-month-old Haya Zissel Braun, 17-year-old Shalom Badani, 20-year-old Sergeant Almog Shiloni, and 26-year-old Dalia Lemkus, all murdered in cold blood in the past weeks – because they were Jews, because they were Israelis.

The CTVP and Australian delegation sat with these bereaved families for a very long time to express their deep condolences and their support. They wanted them to know that the Australian Jewish community has them and all of Israel in their hearts and in their thoughts continually.

CTVP is working to assess the needs of these bereaved families – and the families of nearly 100 other Israelis wounded in these horrific terror attacks – to be able to provide individualized programs of support to meet their specific needs. CTVP will be with these grieving families for as long as they need us, no matter how long.